Fuel-feeding device for motor cars



F. F. FLINT FUEL FEEDING DEVLCE FOR MOTOR CARS Filed Feb. 18, 1924 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,517,777 PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD F.- FLINT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OF ONE-THIRD T MAXWELL W. BENJAMIN AND ONE-THIRD T0 RALPH W. MGKINNEY AND BESSIE O. PINKERTON, ALL .013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FUEL-FEEDING DEVICE FOR MOTOR CARS.

Application filed February 18, 1924. Serial No. 683,730.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, Friovn F. FLINT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel- Feeding Devices for Motor Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to drawings.

The invention relates to fuel feeding devices for motor cars of that type in which the fuel is lifted from a low down tank and delivered to the float chamber of a carburetor at higher level. It is the object of the invention to provide mechanically actuated means for accomplishing this purpose, which is adequate to supply the maximum demand but will not either overfeed or produce abnormally high pressure. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section through my improved fuel feeding mechanlsm;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view with the valve housing removed; I

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the valve housing.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a siphon preventing device taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure L l i In the operation of motor cars, the valves are actuated by cams, which in certain constructions are located in the motor crank case and directly actuate the valve tappets. With my improvement I utilize one of the cams for also actuating a reciprocato plunger, which functions to lift the liquid fuel. As shown, A is the cam shaft and B one of the cams thereon for actuatin a tappet C within the crank case D. E is a housing which is attached to the crank case and is provided with a cylinder portion for receiving the plunger F. This plunger is preferably cup-shaped with the head portion F at its innerend adapted to bear against the cam B, being yieldably pressed therea' inst by a spring G within the cup and a utting against the opposite the accompanying end of the cylinder. H is a central guide pin which serves to hold the spring from displacement.

The housing E is provided with a depending portion E having a laterally projecting nipple I which is engaged by a dome-shaped housing J. At the lower end of the portion E is a detachable plug cap K, which preferably has secured thereto the screen L bearing at its upper end against an annular shoulder M in the wall of the housing. 0 is the fuel inlet conduit which communicates with the chamber within the portion E, being preferably located near the lower end thereof. P is a port extending from the chamber within the portion E through the nipple I, being surrounded at the point of discharge by an oblique valve seat Q R is a valve of disk form which is adapted to engage the seat Q. This valve is provided with a pin S, which loosely engages an aperture in a stop plate T which extends parallel to the valve seat and is spaced therefrom slightly greater than the thickness of the. valve. The plate T is preferably secured to an inclined bearing U in the nipple by means of the screw V. The plate T isalso preferably provided with a Eointed pin T projecting towards the valve and engaging a recess in the upper portion thereof. W is a discharge conduit connecting to the dome-shaped housing J and leading to the carburetor float chamber.

With the construction as described it will be understood that the conduit 0 extends to the fuel supply tank, which is usually located some distance below the level 'of the carburetor. When the engine is in operation, the rotation of the cam shaft A will cause the cam B to rapidly oscillate the plunger F, this being returned by the resilient pressure of the spring G. The reciprocation of the plunger will cause an alternate compression and the rarefication of the Y air, which in turn will cause a reciprocatory movement of the valve R between its seat and the stop plate T. As this valve is of small mass a very slight force is suflicient to move it, and consequently, each air pulsa-' tion will seat and unseat the valve. During the coni ression phase a portion of the air within the housing'E will be forced beyond the valve into the housing J, but upon the opposite stroke the valve will instantaneously seat, so as to prevent return of the air. Consequently the pressure within the housing E is constantly reduced, with the result thatthe fuel will be raised by atmospheric pressure until it fills the lower portion E of said housing. Further action will cause the fuel to travel through the port P and past thevalve B into the chamber J and finally through the conduit W to the float chamber of the carburetor; As this float chamber is provided with the usual float valve, the discharge of the fuel is permitted until, the normal level is attained, after which further discharge is prevented by the closing of said float valve. There will not, however, be any tendency to devefop an abnormally high pressure in the casing J orupon the discharge conduit W, inasmuch as the movement of fuel past the valve R is due solely to its inertia. Therefore, whenever the pressure within the -fimrh illbcr J attains a predetermined point, no

' more ffiFwil-Lbenintroduced therein.

With the construction as thus far described, there will be danger of the fuel rising in the housing E and finally'into the cylinder E so as to come in direct contact with the plunger. Such an effect would be deterimental and to guard against the same, I have arranged a shield within the portion E of the housing. This preferably consists of a float X ofcork or other suitable material, which is guided by a depending pin X engaging a central tubular guide U. Normally the float X rests upon the guide U and provides a free passagejor the air I thereabout. When, however, the fluid rises within the portion E, the float X will be lifted so asto impinge against an annular shoulder Y, which will prevent further rise. However, the pulsations continuing will discharge the fuel past the valve R, but will not permit it to enter the cylinder E.

The advantage of my construction is that it is always in action whenever the motor is operating and the quantity of fuel fed is always equal to but never in excess of the demand.

In case itis necessary to clean the screen L, this may be accomplished by merely removing the plug K. This plug also is preferably recessed to form a trap for the collection of water dropping out of suspension from the fuel. I have also provided a second plug Z communicating with the housing J and which permits the removal of any sediment passing the valve.

In order to prevent any possibility of fuel loss through siphoning when the level of the fuel tank is above that of the carburetor, as for example on a down grade, a siphon-preventing device a is located in the system between the tank and the carburetor. As shown, this device is located between the casing E and the fuelconduit Q andv (39m prises a horizontal cylinder b communicating with the chamber in the casing E through a connection 0. Within the cylinder is a reciprocable member d of cork or other suitable material, said member being held centrally within'the cylinder by the spaced bearings a. One end of the member is provided with a valve 9 adapted to engage the seat It, while the opposite end has the grooves z for preventing closing of the conduit O.

In the normal operation of the device the member at is reciprocated in the cylinder b by the pulsating fuel and the valve 9 remains open, the fuel from the conduit 0 flowing through the passages f. If, however, the car should be stalled upon a down grade and the float valve of the carburetor not tightly seated so that siphoning of the fuel could take place, the flow of fuel through the cylinder 6 would actuate the member d and close the valve g, thereby closing the conduit 0 and preventing any further loss of fuel. As soon as it is desired to start the motor again, the pulsations of the fuel will again be communicated to the member (1, thereby opening the valve G and allowing passage of fuel into the housin E. While I have described my uel feeding means as feeding fuel from a low down tank to a carburetor located at a higher point, it is equally applicable to feeding fuel either u ward or downward without material variation in the volume of discharge. Thus there is no difference in action whether the car is on an ascending or descending grade or running upon a level road. Also the fuel feed automatically varies according to demand and is otherwise unefi'eeted by changes in demand.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Liquid feeding means comprising an air pulsator, a conduit with which said pulsator is in communication and forming an otherwise closed passage from the liquid supply source to the point of discharge, a highly sensitive check valve responsive to the action of said pulsator and located in said conduit between said pulsator and the liquid supply source, said check valve being arranged to float in open position during the normal effective action of the pulsator, the inertia of the liquid column between the valve and supply source preventing closing of said check valve.

2. Liquid feeding means including a source of supply, air pulsator and a ong conduit of relatively small cross section with which said pulsator is connected and having a check valve controlled outlet, the pulsator having connection with the conduit adjacent its outlet and whereby the inertia of the liquid column between said connection and the source of supply prevents flow of the liquid through the conduit toward the source of supply during normal opera tion of the pulsator and a second check valve located in said conduit between the pulsator connection and source of supply and opening away from said source, said second check valve being arranged to rest in open position during normal operation of the pulsator and to normally seat and unseat at the start of'operation of said pulsator.

3. Liquid feeding means including a source of supply, air pulsator and a long conduit of relatively small cross section with which said pulsator is connected and having a check valve controlled outlet, an inlet controlling check valve arranged to rest in open position during normal operation of the liquid feeding means, the pulsator having connection with the conduit between said connection and the source of supply, whereby the inertia of the liquid columnin said conduit prevents flow of the liquid through the conduit toward the source of supply during normal operation of the pulsator and means to prevent access of fluid from the conduit to said pulsator.

4. Liquid feeding means including a source of supply, air pulsator and a long conduit of relatively small cross section with which said pulsator is connected and having a check valve controlled outlet, the pulsator having connection with the conduit adjacent its outlet and whereby the inertia of the liquid column between said connection and the source of supply prevents flow of the liquid through the conduit toward the source of supply during normal operation of the pulsator and a second. check valve located in said conduit between the pulsator connection and source of supply and opening away from said source, said second check valve being arranged to rest in open position during normal operation of the pulsator and to normally seat and unseat at the start of operation of said pulsator and means to prevent access of fluid from the conduit to said pulsator.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine provided with a valve actuating cam, of a fuel feeding means comprising a housing located adjacent to said cam, a plunger in said housing in operative contact with said cam to be reciprocated thereby,

a depending portion of said housing having a 'chamber'communicating with the chamber containing said plunger, a nipple projecting laterally from said depending portion, a dome-shaped housing engaging said nipple, an obliquely inclined valve seat on said nipple within said dome-shaped housing surounding a port communicating with the chamber in said depending portion, a disk valve for engaging said seat, a stop plate parallel to said seat and spaced therefrom slightly greater than the thickness of said valve, a pin on said valve engaging an aperture in said stop plate and forming a guide for the valve, a conduit leading from the fuel supply tank to the chamber in said depending portion, and a conduit leading from said dome-shaped housing to the float chamber of the carburetor.

6. The combination with an internal conibustion engine provided with a valve actuating cam, of a-plunger operatively engaging said cam to be actuated thereby, a casing in which said plunger reciprocates provided with a cylindrical portion for receiving the plunger and a depending chambered portion, a spring within said cylindrical portion for holding said plunger in yieldable contact with said cam, a lateral projection upon said depending portion of the housing, an oblique valve seat on said lateral projection having a port communicating with the chamber in said depending portion, a disk valve engaging said seat, a stop plate parallel to said seat and spaced therefrom slightly greater than the thickness of said valve, a pin projecting from said stop plate and engaging a recess in the upper portion of said valve to guide the same, a housing enclosing said valve, a conduit leading from said housing to the float chamber of the carburetor, a conduit leading from the fuel supply tank and communicating with the chamber in said depending portion of the housing, and a float member within said chamber adapted to rise with the liquid therein and limit the upward movement thereof.

7. The combination with an internalicombustion engine provided with a valve-operating cam, of means for feeding liquid fuel thereto comprising a plunger operatively engaging said valve, a housing having a cylindrical portion in which said plunger reciprocates and provided with a depending chambered portion, a plug for closing the lower end of said depending chambered portion, said plug being recessed and forming a separate chamber, a lateral projection upon said depending portion having an oblique valve seat thereon surrounding a port communicating with the chamber in said depending portion, a valve engaging said seat, a stop plate parallel to said seat and spaced therefrom slightly greater than the thickness of said valve, a housing surrounding said valve, a conduit connecting said housing to the float chamber of the carburetor, a plug engaging the lower portion of said housing detachable to remove sediment therefrom, and a conduit leading from the fuel supply tank and communicating with the chamber in said depending portion, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.v

FLOYD F. FLINT. 

